Sat Nav Power

[IJWS15]

Have had the car for ten days and 1400 miles (included a trip to Edinburgh).

Have just fitted a Brodit clip and mount for my PDA (runs Tomtom) and am concerned that the cigarette lighter socket is on all the time (unlike the Honda's which was switched live). Don't want to have to remember to unplug it every time as the TomTom cradle draws power.

What is the easiest way to route a cable from the right hand side of the radio where the mount is to the fuse box.

I took the two visible screws out of the trim under the steering wheel on Sunday but it still did not want to move. Guidance on trim removal would be appreciated.

Also how do I use a redundant fuse location to feed this from the fuse box (beside steering wheel, RHD car).

[ap0gee]

Maybe something like this would help?

Bluetooth kit install

[octavialover]

Hi, its quite easy once you no how. either side of steering wheel you need to prise off the carbon fibre effect trim, and behind those are some more torx screws, remove those as well as the other two that you have removed. Also prise off the headlight surround. the bottom part of dash should now come apart. You can connect a wire with I think its a female spade connector directly into a spare terminal at the fuse box which is on right side of dash. At the radio end I found it easier to run the wire up behind dash and out under the air vent housing, again prise air vent gently. Check out vrstu website for some pictures.

[VRStu]

Originally Posted by octavialover

You can connect a wire with I think its a female spade connector directly into a spare terminal at the fuse box

It would be a male you need.

Remember, if using this method, to add an inline fuse.

[IJWS15]

There are loads of spare switch lives in the fuse box, may get away with threading the wire through behind the panel. the storage box beside the steering wheel may be a problem though. Will see how it goes.

Have modified a spare fuse so it only has one leg and soldered a wire onto the top of the missing leg giving me a fuse, not immediately replaceable though but proves the concept.

Just need to find my crimps to sort a ground out.

Will get an in-line fuse holder sometime.

Thanks for the help.

[VRStu]

Top securing screw on the fuse panel makes a good ground.

[IJWS15]

Got most of the work done last night, cables threaded through behind lower trim panel. and not they don't leave much slack on the diagnostic socket leads do they!

Got an in-line fuse holder from Maplin and connected that in, then it started raining.

On the way out this morning I connected the ground, fitted the fuse and plugged the crimp into the fuse space and it works. Not happy that the crimp is tight in the fusebox so will replace this with half a fuse soldered to the end of the wire tonight and secure the fuse holder and wires in the fusebox - that is if it doesn't rain again!

Also discovered that Maplin do similar parts to Brodit and that they include clips which look as if they will fit the standard TomTom cradle that I have. They also have plugs of all different shapes and sizes so I didn't need to destroy an old charger for a plug.

[VRStu]

Originally Posted by IJWS15

Got most of the work done last night, cables threaded through behind lower trim panel. and not they don't leave much slack on the diagnostic socket leads do they!

Not at all, some are really bad others marginally better, I always remove the plug so I can take the panel out if I working in that area.